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Feb 19, 2023 · Updated: February 19, 2023. Maps and Cartography. Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) is a coordinate system that is widely used for mapping and navigation purposes. The UTM coordinate system is a system of grids that is used to locate positions on the earth’s surface.
UTM is the acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator, a plane coordinate grid system named for the map projection on which it is based (Transverse Mercator). The UTM system consists of 60 zones, each 6-degrees of longitude in width.
20. UTM Coordinate System. Shown below in Figure 2.21.1 is the southwest corner of a 1:24,000-scale topographic map published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Note that the geographic coordinates (40 45' N latitude, 77° 52' 30" W longitude) of the corner are specified.
A plane coordinate system that is convenient for GIS work over large areas is the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system. UTM with the Universal Polar Stereographic system covers the world in one consistent system. It is four times less precise than typical State Plane Coordinate systems, with a scale factor that reaches 0.9996.
The plane coordinate systems used most widely in the U.S., UTM and SPC (the State Plane Coordinates system) are both based upon conformal projections. Figure 2.22.2 The result of a Transverse Mercator projection of the world centered on UTM Zone 30.
The Universal Transverse Mercator projection and grid system was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1947 for designating rectangular coordinates on large scale military maps. UTM is currently used by the United States and NATO armed forces.
UTM Coordinates on USGS Topographic Maps. UTM, MGRS, and USNG Coordinates on USGS Topographic Maps. All USGS topographic maps printed in the last 30 years or so include either UTM grid lines, in black or UTM grid tick marks, in blue, on the margin of the map. The UTM Grid lines are also used with MRGS and USNG coordinates. Printed UTM Grid Lines.
